Falling for the Genie (Genie's Love, Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

few times before placing his hands on my shoulders. Bending close, he whispers in my ear, “Someone kind and loyal. Someone who wouldn’t hurt you, who’d listen to you, even if you have something crazy or ridiculous to say. Someone who’d hold you and comfort you, who’d love you more than he loves himself.” His voice gets huskier. “Someone who would sweep you off your feet, who’d treat you like a queen.”
    My breath catches in my throat. I can’t say a word. He got it right, one hundred percent.
    “And you’d treat him with the same love, care, and kindness.” He straightens himself. “That is what you want.” His face gets serious. “I can get that for you.”
    I shake my head. “He…he doesn’t exist. No one like that exists.”
    He shrugs. “Maybe not, but I can create him.”
    I gape at him. “You can create a person?”
    “No, but I can influence some traits.”
    “So you’d basically control someone to be like that?”
    He cocks his head to the side. “Pretty much.”
    No way. I know he’s a genie and I have the opportunity to wish for whatever I want, but I’m not going to wish for a boyfriend. I want someone to fall in love with me, not have him controlled to fall in love with me. Besides, I don’t want to take the easy way out by not having to work hard for a relationship.
    “I’m fine,” I say.
    “Okay.”
    The room gets silent. That seems to happen to us a lot. With not much in common, we don’t have a lot to talk about. I layer the lasagna, then pop it in the oven. Sebastian follows me into the living room and we get comfortable with a movie, an action one this time.
    “What about something to help someone else?” I ask. “Like world peace or something?”
    He pulls his gaze from the TV to me. “Wishes need to be personal, not general.”
    That makes sense. I rest my elbows on my knees, bending forward. I clear my throat, avoiding his eyes. “What about taking someone else’s pain away?”
    He’s quiet. I bet he’s looking at me intently, probably trying to figure out exactly what I’m referring to. I hope he can read my mind because I really don’t want to talk about my mom.
    “I’ll need more details,” he says softly, his warm hand resting on my shoulder. That action alone causes me to lose it. Tears fill my eyes and splash down my cheeks before I can stop them. Asking for this wish requires me to open up to him. I’m not ready to do that. Running my sleeve across my eyes, I get up. “I need to check on the lasagna.”
    “Lily…”
    I busy myself with dinner so I don’t have to think. To feel. The oven mitts drop from my hands a few times and I accidentally touch the racks, burning my index finger. Focus, Lily . I don’t want to lose it.
    “Lily,” he says again from the doorway. I can’t look at him. I don’t want him or anyone to see what a mess I am.
    Strong arms wrap around me from behind and Sebastian gently pulls me to his chest, resting his chin on my head. “You have time,” he whispers. “You don’t have to wish yet.”
    I shut my eyes, shoving away all the memories and pain, and enjoying the feeling of being in his arms. Of being protected and comforted. I want to thank him, but my throat is too dry. He must know what I’m feeling, because he hugs me closer.

Chapter Five
     
    After work the next day, I check my phone. There are no texts. I probably sent my mom over a hundred these past few days, mostly asking her to call me back. Daisy’s death broke her. Completely. The last few months of my senior year of high school sucked. Not only because my sister died, but because my mother turned into one of the walls of our house. She still worked, but she walked around like a zombie. If not for her boss feeling sorry for her, I’m pretty sure she would have been fired.
    I’d come home from school every day hoping she changed. Hoping that she started seeing the therapist her friend recommended. I needed her. We needed each other. We still